3 Keys to Making a Positive Impact in Your World

You may have heard of Environmental Impact Statements, those reports that show what a particular activity, such as mining, will have on the environment if implemented. If you are in IT, you may have heard of Network Impact Statements. Same thing – it addresses what impacts a new device or protocol will have on the network if implemented. These and others like them are assessments as to the potential impacts a particular action will make, based on experience, environment, conservative assumptions, and known qualities.

Most people and organizations want to make a impact in their world, whether for mankind, your customer, or your community. I know I do. I wake up every day with the personal mission of making an impact on my world. My personal vision statement reads: “To be the difference that makes a difference in the lives of others”. It’s noble, I know, but it’s the fuel that keeps me going to be more today than I was yesterday. My mission statement – the engine that drives me towards my vision, reads: “To live large while serving others in everything I do”. Equally noble, I get it.

So how do you impact in your world regardless of your vision or mission statement? Here are three keys that will ensure you make a positive impact in your world and to those around you.

Know yourself.

I have often stated that I want to be the world’s expert on myself. One of the best ways to get to know you is to ask yourself a lot questions, then answer them. Why does this bother me? What am I going to do about it? Why do I think the way I do?  Why do I respond this way? The next best thing to do is to ask others how they see you – but only if you are willing to hear the answers. You can do this informally or with tools like a 360 degree survey. If you have ever taken a Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator assessment, go beyond the assessment explanations and do the extra effort to explore how your type interacts with the world.

Be Accountable.

Personal accountability is a mindset over skill set  It responds to circumstances with “How Can I…” and “What can I…” Cy Wakeman, author of “Reality Based Leadership”, explains the relationship between reality and accountability, and how to create the right mindset. Her mission is to remove the drama. Get it. Read it. Practice it.

Being accountable is more than being responsible to others or for a particular outcome or resource. Being accountable is about adding value in everything you do. It’s about owning your reality, being a part of a solution rather than creating or contributing to the drama. Cy expertly addresses these points and shows how this can be applied in everyday circumstances.

Be Empathetic verses Sympathetic.

Being sympathetic either creates or agrees with an excuse for why an expectation is not meet, a deadline is missed, or that you can’t do something. Being empathetic understands what the issue is, then places yourself into the solution, i.e. “How can I help? What do you need from me?” Many elements are at play when dealing with empathy verses sympathy. Leadership, accountability, dealing with reality, and knowing yourself all plays into it.

These keys do not make a person perfect, or even easy to get along with. They do, however, guarantee that by growing these competencies, you will make a positive impact in your world. These require intentionality, growth, a change in mindset, and sacrifice.

Question: How do you make an impact in your world?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’d like to know what you think. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below.

How To Be FIRST With Your Customers and Peers

In the Telecommunications industry, as with many different industries, speaking in initials and acronyms are almost a language unto themselves. Frustrating as it sometimes can be, there is always a deeper meaning behind it.

A good example of this is The Home Depot’s use of FIRST for engaging its customers. Beth Ray, a successful Lead Generator for The Home Depot’s home services group explains what FIRST is and how this acronym helps keep her focused on what’s important to her customers and work peers.

F = Find; as in find the customer. While this might seem obvious, knowing who or where your customer might be is not. Beth applies Find to her work peers as much as she does to external customers. She doesn't have the luxury of waiting for customers to find her. This attitude serves as a means of making connections that would otherwise go unconnected. In Beth’s case, the lack of connection could result in either a loss of a potential sale or an unresolved problem that could cost the organization needlessly. 

I = Inquire; as in ask questions to better understand the needs of the customer or peer, and then listen….with interest. This is a critical step in the process as it provides the foundation for care, trust, and a safe engagement. Many problems are well on the way of being solved with this critical step.

R = Respect; as in showing and giving respect to the customer, the peer, the problem, and the possible solution. Customers engage Beth with the assumption that she is the expert in resolving their problem. While she may not know how to apply a new roof, she does know who within her network does, and she makes the connections on behalf of her customer. Showing the same respect to her peers works both ways, resulting in Beth becoming an antenna within the organization.

S = Solve; as in having a “we have the solution to your problem” attitude. It’s interesting to note that six identical problems will many times require six different solutions. Cost, feasibility, resources, knowledge, and skills may all factor in a specific solution. The same can be said within the organization. Acting on the attitude of “we have the solution to your problem” will always ensure you are needed – even if all you can do is find someone else to address the need. Displaying this attitude when the problem may very well not be a part of your job description demonstrates a sense of “we are one team”, and is often a contributing factor in overall customer satisfaction and loyalty.

T = Thank; as in “duh!” It’s surprising however how many times we forget to thank someone for the simplest of things. We need to thank our customers with trusting us with their problem. We need to thank our direct reports for their efforts and assistance. We need to thank our teammates for their support, and we need to thank our peers in other organizations for their assistance as well.

Question: How can you apply FIRST in your role?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’d like to know what you think. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below.

8 Leadership Lessons from BBQ Pit Masters

I love to barbecue, grill, and smoke meat, and I like to watch the BBQ Pit Masters show on Destination America. It has less to do with the drama of the personalities themselves and more to do on actual techniques, types of meats, profiles, and what makes for a winner in each segment. At the end of each show, it’s all about bragging rights and who gets to advance towards the Kingsford invitational to be crowned as this year’s grand Champion.

Similarly, I desire the bragging rights, but not through competition with other pit masters. Unlike the pro’s on the show, I do not own a restaurant or compete for cash prizes. I compete with myself to grow a personal following of my brand of barbecue – traditional American BBQ infused with Polish flavors and techniques. For me, it’s about serving up great Polish food using an American platform to do so. In the process, I discovered that there are several leadership lessons that can be learned from the culinary art of barbecue. Here are eight that are worth mentioning:

1. BBQ: Any cut of meat has the potential of being a winning entry.
   Leadership Lesson: The traits comprising the raw materials of leadership can be acquired. Link them up with desire and nothing can keep you from becoming a leader.
2. BBQ: Great barbecue is a process. It takes a combination of practiced skill, knowledge, time, character and integrity to create great barbecue.
   Leadership Lesson: Leadership is a process. It too takes a combination of practiced skill, knowledge, time, character and integrity to be an effective leader.
3. BBQ: If you don’t have someone to serve your barbecue to, you’re just cooking meat. Leadership Lesson: It’s been said that as a leader, if you don’t have followers, you’re just taking a walk. 
4. BBQ: Different meats require different flavor profiles, cooking temperatures, woods for the pit, and serving options.
   Leadership Lesson: Different people and situations require different leadership profiles, working environments, opportunities, and resources. 
5. BBQ: A winning pit master needs to remain flexible and agile to deliver great results. Simple things like temperature, weather, and tools can make the difference between good barbecue and great barbecue.
   Leadership Lesson: A successful leader needs to remain flexible and agile to deliver great results. Simple things like developing others, performing as a servant leader, and leading ethically can make the difference between a good leader and a great leader. 
6. BBQ: Winning pit masters are constantly growing and developing to be better tomorrow than they were today. They evolve and constantly learn. They are passionate about barbecue.
   Leadership Lesson: Successful leaders are constantly growing and developing to be better tomorrow than they were today. They evolve and constantly grow. They are passionate about leading well. 
7. BBQ: If you continue to serve poor tasting barbecue, your customers or audience will find another pit master.
   Leadership Lesson: If you continue to lead poorly, people will find another leader. 
8. BBQ: There is no such thing as a self-made Pit Master. Every Pit Master has had help along the way to success. Great Pit Masters surround themselves with those that continue to challenge them to be better. Every great barbecue served requires a team to execute. Leadership Lesson: There is no such thing as a self-made leader. Every good to great leader has had help along the way. Every successful leader requires a team to execute to obtain the desired results.

Question: How do you lead with great barbecue?

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I'd like to know what you think. feel free to let me know in the comments section below.